NFL Films President Steve Sabol dies at 69
NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Films President Steve Sabol has died from brain cancer. He was 69.
The NFL said Sabol died Tuesday, 18 months after he was diagnosed with a tumor on the left side of his brain. Sabol started working with his father Ed, NFL Films’ founder, in 1964, and their innovations revolutionized sports broadcasting and helped make the NFL the country’s most popular sport.
Ed was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year. The two received the Lifetime Achievement Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2003.
Atlanta running back celebrates a bit too much
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner was jailed on charges of drunken driving and speeding early this morning, just hours after he scored a touchdown in the team’s win over the Denver Broncos. Turner was booked into the Gwinnett County jail in metro Atlanta just after 5 a.m. Jail records show that he spent barely two hours behind bars before he was released on $2,179 bond.
A police spokesman said that Turner was clocked going 97 mph, 32 mph over the speed limit.
Get ready for some good matchups
UNDATED (AP) — As the end of the regular season approaches every game for the teams involved in playoff races is important, and tonight there are some good matchups.
In Anaheim, the Angels open up a series with Texas. In the American League West, the Rangers top the Athletics by 3 games and the Angels by 7 ½. More importantly for the Angels is the Wild Card race, as they are currently 3 games back of Baltimore for the final Wild Card berth. Angels fans must feel good knowing that 17 game winner Jered Weaver is on the mound tonight.
As far as the A’s are concerned, they open a series with Detroit this evening in the Motor City. The A’s are currently in possession of one of the two Wild Card berths while the Tigers are 3 games back of first-place Chicago in the American League Central. The bottom line to this game: it is important to both clubs. Chicago’s opponent tonight is Kansas City as the Royals play host to the White Sox.
As mentioned, Baltimore holds one of the two AL Wild Card berths right now, but they are still gunning for the Yankees in the East Division. As the day begins, New York tops Baltimore by just a half-game in the East. The Yankees are home to the Blue Jays tonight while the Orioles are in Seattle.
The remaining American League games have Cleveland playing at Minnesota and Boston plays at Tampa.
In the National League things are just as unsettled. The tightest divisional race is in the East where the Nationals top the Braves by 5 games. Tonight the Nats are hosting Los Angeles while the Braves are in Miami. In the NL Wild Card race, the Braves and Cardinals hold down the two spots with the Dodgers a game back of St. Louis. The Cardinals are home to the Astros tonight.
The battle for one of the two NL Wild Card spots is intense as four teams are within 3 ½ games of the final spot. Following the Dodgers are the Brewers and Pirates at 2 ½ games back and Philadelphia at 3 ½ games out.
A check of tonight’s other games involving those contending teams shows the Phillies in New York to meet the Mets and Milwaukee playing at Pittsburgh. A.J. Burnett is on the mound for the Bucs and he is going for his 16th win of the season.
The rest of tonight’s NL card has Cincinnati at Chicago, San Diego at Arizona and Colorado at San Francisco.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota at Cleveland 6:05 p.m.
Oakland at Detroit 6:05 p.m.
Toronto at N-Y Yankees 6:05 p.m.
Boston at Tampa Bay 6:10 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
Texas at L.A. Angels 9:05 p.m.
Baltimore at Seattle 9:10 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers at Washington 6:05 p.m.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh 6:05 p.m.
Atlanta at Miami 6:10 p.m.
Philadelphia at N-Y Mets 6:10 p.m.
Cincinnati at Chi Cubs 7:05 p.m.
Houston at St. Louis 7:15 p.m.
San Diego at Arizona 8:40 p.m.
Colorado at San Francisco 9:15 p.m.